JAVI Gomez de Liano is staying put in University of the Philippines, intent to play out his final playing year in the UAAP.
The 22-year-old was firm in his decision to have one last go round with the Fighting Maroons as the Diliman side seeks to end a 35-year title drought in the UAAP.
"It's just a personal goal of mine to win a championship for UP before I leave," he said.
"I'm just really grateful for the opportunity that the university has given me, with the support from the coaches, management and community."
Gomez de Liano is among players eligible for the special Gilas round of the PBA Rookie Draft.
The 6-foot-5 forward showed his wares for the national team in the second window of the 2021 Fiba Asia Cup qualifiers in Manama back in November, where he posted 14.0 points on 71-percent shooting, to go with 2.5 rebounds in 16.7 minutes of action in the Philippines' two-game sweep of Thailand.
He earned another invite for the Gilas Pilipinas training camp and is currently at Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba preparing for the third window in February in Clark.
"I felt very short during my whole career playing in the UAAP and I feel like I can show how I really play and maximize my full potential in my last playing year," he said.
Gomez de Liano can return to UP as early as UAAP Season 84 later this year, where he has a chance to play with his brothers Joe, who is currently in the Fighting Maroons' Team B, and Jordi, who is with the Junior Maroons.
"Another dream of mine is to play with my brothers Joe and Jordi 'cause I haven't played alongside with them for a while," he said.
Meanwhile, his other brother Juan is in danger of being ruled ineligible for the UAAP after suiting up for the Nueva Ecija Rice Vanguards in the 2020 Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3x3 President's Cup back in October.
Aside from playing his final year in UP, Javi is also intent on suiting up for Nueva Ecija in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) on top of his obligations with the national team before he makes the jump to the PBA.
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